What readers think of Alias Grace, plus links to write your own review.

If you haven’t read a Margaret Atwood novel before, as I hadn’t, you might be put off by ALIAS GRACE if you give up before page 43. I almost did. Luckily, I reminded myself to give it a few more pages. It becomes a page turner after page 43.

Grace Marks was a real person, as are some of the other characters in ALIAS GRACE. (Atwood discusses the fact and fiction of this book in the “Afterword.” I read it first.) Grace was accused of murder in 19th–century Canada. Atwood fills in where the facts are not known.

Even if Atwood’s writing about Grace’s life before she moves to Canada (when she lives in Ireland with her parents and siblings) sounds monotonous to you, stick with it. You’ll be glad you did.